Syringe filling apparatus

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to devices and methods for the filling syringes. One medical apparatus in accordance with the present invention include a body member for releasably holding syringe barrels and an actuator apparatus slidably mounted on the body member to engage syringe plungers to cause the syringe plunger to be retracted. A fluid delivery apparatus is releasably mounted to the body member. The fluid delivery apparatus has an inlet port and a plurality of outlet ports. The inlet port is in fluid communication with each of the plurality of outlet ports. One method for filling a plurality of syringes in accordance with the present invention includes the steps of mounting a plurality a syringes to a syringe holding member and connecting a fluid delivery apparatus to the syringe holding member to mate with each of the tips of the syringe barrels. The method also includes the steps of placing an inlet port of the fluid delivery apparatus in a fluid and moving an actuator apparatus to retract the syringe plungers to cause fluid to enter the syringe barrels.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of, and priority to, U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/328,045, filed Jan. 9, 2006 as a continuationapplication.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention generally relates to medical apparatus. Moreparticularly, the present invention relates to apparatus and methods forfilling medical syringes.

BACKGROUND

Many medical procedures require injecting a fluid into a patient using asyringe. In certain medical procedures, multiple syringes may be neededto administer the fluid into the patient. For example, in treatingvaricose vein using “sclerotherapy”, multiple injections of a sclerosingsolution are administrated to the patient. In this procedure, 40-60syringes may be utilized to inject the solution during a treatmentsession. Before the syringes can be used to inject the solution, thesyringes must initially be filled. Once all of the syringes are filled,the syringes can be utilized to deliver the solution to the patient.

One method of obtaining a filled syringe is to purchase syringes thathave been pre-loaded with the desired fluid. However, this method hasseveral disadvantages. First, pre-loaded syringes having the desiredfluid may not be readily available. Second, if the syringe is available,it may not have the desired amount of fluid and may be relativelyexpensive. For these and other reasons, pre-loaded syringes may not bedesirable.

An alterative method of filing syringes involves manually filling thesyringes. This method involves manually inserting the needle of eachsyringe, one at a time, into a sealed vial containing the fluid. Oncethe needle is inserted into the container, the syringe plunger iswithdrawn until the syringe barrel is filled with the desired amount offluid. The operation is repeated for each syringe until the number ofdesired syringes are filled. However, manually filling multiple syringescan be time consuming and labor intensive. Further, the needle of thesyringe may be damaged when the needle is inserted into the sealedcontainer, requiring the needle to be replaced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the above, the present invention provides medical apparatusand methods for filling a plurality of syringes. The medical apparatusand methods allow multiple syringes to be easily and quickly filled atthe same time. The medical apparatus and methods also allow medicalpractitioners to quickly fill any additional syringes needed during atreatment of a patient. As a result, medical practitioners can reducethe amount of time spent for filling syringes, thereby reducing laborcosts for the medical treatment.

The medical apparatus further allows medical practitioners to fill anumber of syringes with approximately the same amount of liquid. Themedical apparatus also fills multiple syringes without the need toinsert the syringe needles into a sealed container of fluid, therebyavoiding damage to the syringe needles. In addition, the medicalapparatus is portable allowing it to be used in various treatment roomsin a medical facility and is less expensive than electronic automaticsyringe fillers.

One medical apparatus in accordance with the present invention includesa body member for releasably holding syringe barrels. An actuatorapparatus is slidably mounted on the body member to engage the syringeplungers to cause the syringe plunger to be retracted. A fluid deliveryapparatus is releasably mounted to the body member. The fluid deliveryapparatus has an inlet port and a plurality of outlet ports. The inletport is in fluid communication with each of the plurality of outletports.

One method for filling a plurality of syringes in accordance with thepresent invention includes the steps of mounting a plurality a syringesto a syringe holding member and connecting a fluid delivery apparatus tothe syringe holding member to mate with each of the tips of the syringebarrels. The method also includes the steps of placing an inlet port ofthe fluid delivery apparatus in a fluid and moving an actuator apparatusto retract the syringe plungers to cause the fluid to enter the syringebarrels.

The invention, together with further attendant advantages, will best beunderstood by reference to the following detailed description of thepresently preferred embodiments of the invention, taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood that both theforegoing general description and the following detailed description areexemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide furtherexplanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described indetail below in connection with the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the medical apparatus in accordance withthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the medical apparatus of FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the medical apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the medical apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the medical apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is another perspective view of the medical apparatus of FIG. 1

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the medical apparatus ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is another fragmentary perspective view of the medical apparatusof FIG. 1; and

FIG. 9 is a side view of another embodiment of a medical apparatus inaccordance with the present invention;

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Before explaining the preferred embodiments in detail, it should benoted that the invention is not limited in its application or use to thedetails of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in theaccompanying drawings and description, because the illustrativeembodiments of the invention may be implemented or incorporated in otherembodiments, variations and modifications, and may be practiced orcarried out in various ways. Furthermore, unless otherwise indicated,the terms and expressions employed herein have been chosen for thepurpose of describing the preferred embodiments of the present inventionfor the convenience of the reader and are not for the purpose oflimitation.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, and particularly to FIGS. 1-3,a preferred embodiment of a medical apparatus 100 for filling aplurality of syringes is illustrated. The medical apparatus 100 allowsmultiple syringes to be easily and quickly filled at the same time. As aresult, medical practitioners can reduce the amount of time spent forfilling syringes, thereby reducing labor costs for the medicaltreatment.

The medical apparatus 100 also allows medical practitioners to fill anumber of syringes with approximately the same amount of liquid. Inaddition, the medical apparatus fills multiple syringes without the needto insert the needle of the syringe in a sealed container of fluid,thereby avoiding damage to the syringe needles. Further, the medicalapparatus can be used if additional syringes need to be quickly filledduring a treatment of a patient. The medical apparatus is portableallowing it to be used in various treatment places in a medical facilityand is less expensive than electronic automatic fillers.

The medical apparatus 100 of FIG. 1 is utilized to fill a plurality ofconventional syringes 110. As shown in FIG. 5, the syringes 110generally include a syringe barrel 112 and a syringe plunger 114 movablydisposed within the syringe barrel 112. The syringe plunger 114 has arubber bulb (not shown) on one end and a plunger head 116 on the otherend. The syringe barrel 112 surrounds the lower portion of the syringeplunger 114. The syringe barrel 112 has a flange 118 at the upper endand a nozzle or tip 120 at the other end. The tip 120 can be attached toa needle once the syringes are filled with fluid. It should berecognized that the syringes are conventional and are not part of thepresent invention.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, the medical apparatus 100 includes a syringeholder apparatus 130, an actuator apparatus 132, and a fluid deliveryapparatus or hub 134. The syringe holder apparatus 130 is configured toreceive and hold a plurality of syringes to be filled with fluid. Asshown in FIG. 5, the syringe holder apparatus 130 can hold up to ten(10) syringes, but it will be recognized that the syringe holderapparatus can be configured to hold any suitable number of syringes. Thesyringe holder apparatus 130 can be constructed from nylon, Teflon,polyurethane, or polyethylene. It will be recognized that the syringeholder apparatus 130 can be made from a variety of other materialsincluding, for example, polypropylene, polyamide,polyethylenterephthalate, polyamide, other polymers and polycarbonatesas well as other suitable forms of plastic.

The syringe holder apparatus 130 of the medical apparatus 100 generallyincludes an elongated member 136, first and second retaining members orcollars 138 and 140, and a stop member 142. The elongated member 136preferably has a substantially circular cross-section, but may have anysuitable cross-section, such as a square or an elliptical cross-section.The elongated member 136 of the syringe holder apparatus 130 preferablyincludes a first end 143, a second end 144, and an aperture or bore 146extending axially from its second end 144. The aperture 146 of theelongated member 136 allows the syringe holder apparatus 130 to beslidably mounted to the actuator apparatus 132 as further describedbelow. The first end 143 of the elongated member 136 is configured toreleasably mount to the fluid delivery apparatus 134.

The first and second retaining members 138 and 140 of the syringe holderapparatus 130 are mounted to the elongated member 136 at a pre-selecteddistance in order to securely hold the syringes during the fillingprocess. The first retaining member 138 is mounted near the first end143 of the elongated member 136 to releasably hold the upper portions ofthe syringe barrels, and the second retaining member 140 is attachednear the second end 144 of the elongated member 136 to releasably holdthe lower portions of the syringe barrels. As shown in FIG. 5, thesyringe barrel 112 is disposed between the first and second retainingmembers 138 and 140. The spacing between the first and second retainingmembers 138 and 140 can be any suitable distance that is less than thelength of the syringe barrel. It will be recognized that the syringeholder apparatus 130 may only have one retaining member or multipleretaining member to releasably hold the syringes to be filled.

The first and second retaining members 138 and 140 of the syringe holderapparatus 130 each have a plurality of recesses or slots 148 formedaround its outer edge. The recesses 148 are adapted to receive and holdthe syringe barrel. Preferably, the recesses 148 are sized to fit snuglyaround the syringe barrel, allowing a medical practitioner to easily andquickly attach or snap the syringe barrel to the syringe holderapparatus 130. It will be recognized that the recesses 148 can beconfigured to accommodate any suitable size syringe barrel and othermechanisms can be used to releasably hold the syringe barrels on thesyringe holding member 130. For example, a clip or finger like membermay be used to hold the syringe barrels onto the syringe holding member130. The first and second retaining members 138 and 140 preferably havethe same number of recesses that are in substantial alignment relativeto the axis of the elongated member 136 of the syringe holding apparatus130.

The stop member 142 of the syringe holder apparatus 130 is mounted tothe second end 144 of the elongated member 136. The stop memberpreferably is cylindrically shaped, but can have any suitable shape. Thestop member 142 is mounted to position the actuator apparatus to engagethe plunger heads of the syringes as shown in FIG. 8 and as furtherdescribed below.

As shown in FIG. 2, the actuator apparatus 132 of the medical apparatus100 generally includes an elongated shaft 150, a driver or retractionmember 152 and a hand grip or knob 154. The actuator apparatus 132 isslidably mounted to the syringe holder apparatus 130 to allow theplungers of the syringes mounted on the syringe holder apparatus 130 tobe retracted or extended in order to cause the fluid to be drawn intothe syringe barrels.

The elongated shaft 150 of the actuator apparatus 132 is slidablypositioned in the aperture 146 of the syringe holder apparatus 130. Theelongated shaft 150 can be moved axially in the aperture 146 of thesyringe holder apparatus 130 to allow the actuator apparatus 132 to bemoved relative to the syringe holder apparatus 130. The elongated shaft150 may also be rotated in the aperture 146 of the syringe plungerapparatus to allow the driver member 152 to interlock with the syringeplunger as further described below.

The drive member 152 of the actuator apparatus 132 is configured andpositioned to engage with the plunger heads of the syringes to move orretract the syringe plungers when the actuator apparatus 132 iswithdrawn. As a result, fluid is drawn through the fluid delivery memberand into the syringes. The driver member 152 includes a plurality ofrecesses 156 to receive the shaft of the syringe plunger. The recesses156 preferably have a larger diameter than the shaft of the syringeplunger so that the recesses 156 loosely receive the shaft of thesyringe plunger. However, the recesses 156 have a smaller diameter thanplunger head of the syringe in order to engage the plunger head uponmovement of the drive member 152.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, the recesses 156 of the drive member 152 canbe configured to interlock with the shaft of the syringe plunger whenthe actuator member is rotated clockwise. When the actuator apparatus132 is moved in the direction of arrow A, the drive member 152 willengage the plunger head to move the syringe plunger and further movementwill cause the extension of the syringe plunger. In an alternativeembodiment shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, when the syringe barrel is mounted tothe syringe holding member, the shaft of the syringe plungers 114 fitinto the recesses of the retraction member and the plunger head 116seats in an indentation or recess 160 of the drive member 152.

The hand grip 154 of the actuator apparatus 132 is substantiallycylindrically shaped and is adapted to be grasped by a user or medicalpractitioner. It will be recognized that the hand grip 154 may be anysuitable shape or size which allows it to be grasped by the user. Thehand grip 154 allows a user to move the actuator apparatus 132 in anupwardly fashion to cause the drive member 152 to contact the plungerhead of the syringe plunger. Once the drive member 152 contacts theplunger head and begins to move the syringe plunger, fluid to be drawninto the syringe barrel as further described below.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, the fluid delivery apparatus 134 of themedical apparatus 100 is releasably mounted to the first end 143 of theelongated member 136 of the syringe holder apparatus 130. The fluiddelivery apparatus 134 allows fluid to be transported from a containerof fluid into the syringe barrels that are mounted on the syringe holderapparatus 130. The fluid delivery apparatus 134 can be constructed fromnylon, Teflon, polyurethane, or polyethylene. It will be recognized thatthe fluid delivery apparatus 134 can be made from a variety of othermaterials including, for example, polypropylene, polyamide,polyethylenterephthalate, polyamide, other polymers and polycarbonatesas well as other suitable forms of plastic.

The fluid delivery apparatus 134 includes a bore 158, an inlet port 160and a plurality of outlet ports 162. The bore 158 is configured so thatthe fluid delivery apparatus 134 can be releasably mounted to the firstend 143 of the elongated member 136 of the syringe holder apparatus 132.The bore 158 can be any suitable shape to mate with the configuration ofthe first end 143 of the elongated member 136.

As shown in FIG. 1, the outlet ports 162 of the fluid delivery apparatusinclude a plurality of apertures formed in the upper surface of thefluid delivery apparatus 134. The apertures are sized to fit snuglyaround the tips of the syringe barrels. In an alternative embodimentshown in FIG. 9, the outlet ports 162 are formed by hollow sleeves 164that extend outwardly from the upper end of the fluid delivery apparatus134. The hollow sleeves 164 fit within the hole in the tip of thesyringe barrel.

As shown in FIG. 6, a delivery conduit or pathway 166 extends from eachoutlet port 162 to the inlet port 160 of the fluid delivery apparatus134. The delivery conduits 166 allow fluid to flow from the inlet port160 to each of the outlet ports 162. A nozzle 170 or tube can beconnected to the inlet port 160 to facilitate obtaining fluid.

The method of filling a plurality of syringes with the medical apparatus100 of FIG. 1 will now be described. Initially, a medical practitionerplaces a plurality of syringes on the syringe holding apparatus 130 withthe actuating apparatus 132 in its retracted or closed position. In thisposition, the plunger head will rest against the drive member 152 of theactuating apparatus 132.

A container having a desired fluid is opened or prepared, and a nozzleattached to the inlet port 160 of the medical apparatus 100 is placed inthe fluid. It will be recognized that the inlet port 160 may beconnected to a tube that can be inserted into the container.

Once the nozzle is placed in the fluid, the medical practitioner graspsthe hand grip 154 of the actuator apparatus 132 and pulls it in anupward direction. As the actuator apparatus 132 moves upwardly, thedrive member 152 of the actuator apparatus 132 engages the plunger headsof the syringe plungers causing the syringe plungers to be extended orretracted. As the syringe plungers are retracted, fluid is drawn throughthe inlet port and through the outlet ports via the delivery conduits.The fluid then travels through the tips of the syringes and into each ofthe syringe barrels.

Once the desired amount of liquid is drawn into each of the syringebarrel, the medical practitioner will stop retracting the actuatormember 132. Once the syringes are filled, the medical practitioner canremove the syringes from the syringe holding member and use the syringesto inject fluid into a patient. This process can be repeated until thedesired number of syringes are filled.

The medical apparatus and methods described above allow a plurality ofsyringes to be quickly and easily filled at the same time. As a result,medical practitioners can reduce the amount of time spent for fillingsyringes, thereby reducing labor costs for the medical treatment. Themedical apparatus also fills multiple syringes without the need toinsert the needle of the syringe in the sealed container, therebyavoiding damage to the syringe needles.

In addition, the medical apparatus can be used to quickly fill syringesif additional syringes need to be filled during a treatment of apatient. Further, the medical apparatus is portable allowing it to beused in various treatment places in a medical facility. The medicalapparatus is also less expensive than electronic automatic syringefillers.

Although the present invention has been described in detail by way ofillustration and example, it should be understood that a wide range ofchanges and modifications can be made to the preferred embodimentsdescribed above without departing in any way from the scope and spiritof the invention. Thus, the described embodiments are to be consideredin all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive, and the scopeof the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims ratherthan the foregoing description. All changes that come within the meaningand range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within theirscope.

1. A medical apparatus for filling a plurality of syringes, each of thesyringes having a syringe barrel and a syringe plunger movably disposedwithin the syringe barrel, the medical apparatus comprising: an elongatebody member for releasably holding the syringe barrels, the elongatebody member having a central axial aperture; an actuator apparatusslidably mounted on the body member within the central axial aperture toengage the syringe plunger to cause the syringe plunger to be retracted;and a fluid delivery apparatus releasably mounted to the body member,the fluid delivery apparatus having an inlet port and a plurality ofoutlet ports, the inlet port in fluid communication with each of theplurality of outlet ports.
 2. The medical apparatus of claim 1 whereinthe body member includes a plurality of recesses to releasably hold thesyringe barrels.
 3. The medical apparatus of claim 1 wherein theactuator apparatus includes a drive member to engage a plunger head ofthe syringe plunger so that the syringe plunger is moved when theactuator apparatus is moved.
 4. A medical apparatus for filling aplurality of syringes, each of the syringes having a syringe barrel anda syringe plunger movably disposed within the syringe barrel, themedical apparatus comprising: an elongate syringe holding apparatushaving a central axial aperture extending therein; at least one annularretaining member mounted to the syringe holding apparatus, the at leastone annular retaining member having a plurality of recesses adapted toreceive and hold the syringe barrel of one of the syringes; an actuatingapparatus having a shaft slidably mounted in the aperture of the syringeholding apparatus; a drive member mounted on the actuating apparatus,the drive member positioned to engage and move the syringe plunger whenthe actuating member is moved in an upward direction; and a fluiddelivery apparatus releasably mounted to the syringe holding apparatus,the fluid delivery apparatus to transport fluid from an inlet port to aplurality of outlet ports when the syringe plunger is withdrawn.
 5. Themedical apparatus of claim 4 further comprising a stop member mounted tothe syringe holding apparatus to contact the actuating apparatus in itsretracted position.
 6. A medical apparatus for filling a plurality ofsyringes, each of the syringes having a syringe barrel and a syringeplunger movably disposed within the syringe barrel, the medicalapparatus comprising: annular means for retaining a plurality ofsyringes; means, slidably mounted to the retaining means, to engage andmove the syringe plunger; and means for fluidly connecting each of thesyringe barrels to a fluid.
 7. A medical apparatus for filling aplurality of syringes, each of the syringes having a syringe barrel anda syringe plunger movably disposed within the syringe barrel, themedical apparatus comprising: an elongate syringe holding apparatushaving a central axial aperture extending therein; an annular firstretaining member, mounted to the syringe holding apparatus, having aplurality of recesses adapted to receive and hold the upper portion ofthe syringe barrels; a second annular retaining member, mounted to thesyringe holding apparatus, having a plurality of recesses adapted toreceive and hold the lower portion of syringe barrels; an actuatingapparatus having a shaft slidably mounted in the central axial apertureof the syringe holding apparatus; a drive member mounted on theactuating apparatus, the drive member positioned to engage the syringeplunger; a hand grip attached to an end of the actuating apparatus; afluid delivery apparatus releasably mounted to the syringe holdingapparatus, the fluid delivery apparatus having an inlet port and aplurality of outlet ports; and; a plurality of delivery conduitsattached to the inlet port and to each of the plurality of the outletports.